Use of bacteria for the production of bioenergy

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to composition and methods of producing bioenergy. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of bacterium of the genus  Deinococcus  and/or related genera for the modification of biomass or biomass derivatives with a view to producing bioenergy products and metabolites.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/740,404, filed Jan. 19, 2011, which is the U.S. national stage application of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008/065613, filed Nov. 14, 2008, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, including all figures, tables and amino acid or nucleic acid sequences.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to composition and methods of producing bioenergy. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of bacteria of the genus Deinococcus and/or related genera for the modification of biomass or biomass derivatives with a view to producing bioenergy products and metabolites.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

It is known to use microorganisms to conduct modification of biomass, essentially plant biomass, to produce bioenergy products, for example ethanol.

Current industrial processes only allow the culture and growth of microorganisms for the fermentation and extraction of ethanol at temperatures in the region of 30° C., owing to the fragility of the industrial microorganisms (yeasts) used. They also entail major bioenergy costs to concentrate the ethanol after fermentation, since the yeasts currently used for this fermentation cannot withstand concentrations of more than 100 g/l. Additionally, the fermentation of these yeasts practically only uses C6 sugars, of glucose type.

It is also known to treat biological material, bacterial strains inter alia, to impart improved properties thereto.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,631 of S. Del Cardayre et al. describes a method based on iterative cycles of recombination and selection/screening to confer desired properties to whole cells and to whole organisms. The added properties are, for example, increased aptitude for genetic recombination, enhanced genome copy number, increased capacity to express and/or secrete proteins and secondary metabolites.

By taking a molecular genetics approach, the authors propose techniques to modify suitably the genomes of cells and organisms to impart novel, improved properties thereto.

The method described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,631 uses a population of different cells, the culturing of these cells to form hybrid cells by protoplast fusion, then the screening or selecting of cells which evolved towards acquiring a desired property, and the repeating of these steps until at least one cell is obtained that has the desired modification. This method is presented as being an advantageous alternative to known methods based on a strain improvement programme.

The protoplasts subjected to said fusion may derive from prokaryotic organisms.

One of the envisaged applications in this US patent is the fermentation for the production, e.g. of ethanol, whose yield and cost it is proposed to improve using said recombination method by shuffling the DNA of the microorganisms used. By way of example, mention is made of the homologous recombination of Rhodococcus, known to catalyze two-phase reactions.

International patent application No. WO01/023526 describes the production and use of bacteria resistant to radiation and able to operate bioremediation, in particular of the genus Deinococcus (notably D. radiodurans and D. geothermalis), modified so as be more efficient for the metabolizing, degradation or detoxifying of inorganic and organic contaminants, such as radionuclides, heavy metals and organic solvents. It is recommended that these bacteria should be manipulated to express heterologous enzymes able to detoxify said elements. The bacterial strains are manipulated to combine a variety of functions encoded by different genes in a single host.

US patent application of I. Narumi et al., published on Sep. 18, 2003 under No. 2003/0175977, describes an endogenous plasmid derived from a strain of D. radiopugnans, pUE30, which can be used as vector able to replicate autonomously in bacteria of genus Deinococcus, and which can be used to construct a shuttle vector also containing a plasmid able to replicate autonomously in E. coli and its derivatives, and able to replicate in a bacterium both of genus Deinococcus and of E. coli.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,160,715 of C. B. Fliermans describes means to measure the distribution and frequency of in vivo generation of DNA strand breaks. These means comprise the use of a PprA protein derived from Deinococcus radiodurans.

US patent application published under No. 2004/0224320 on behalf of K. Satoh et at describes a Gram-positive bacterium (Access No ATCC BAA-149 or a mutant thereof) that is isolated and purified. The isolate is able to degrade a large variety of organic contaminants and is suitable for the bioremediation of a variety of organic contaminations, in the presence of ionizing radiation.

Also, a recent monograph on the production of ethanol using fermentation with strains of microorganisms was published under the title “Ethanol Fermentation Strains” by J. R. Hettenhaus, under the aegis of the United States Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Dec. 16, 1998). In this document, which summarizes the contributions made by participants in the study concerned, it is pointed out that:

-   -   the only micro-organism strains which can be used in existing         equipment should be similar to those already used, namely         Saccharomyces, Zymomonas and E. coli;     -   in the short term, the increased fermentation of xylose and         arabinose could be the targeted objective, it being specified         however that it is of little interest to increase the converting         efficacy of the other sugars of hexose or oligomer type;     -   over the longer term, gains could be achieved regarding higher         operating temperatures and combining of the steps of enzyme         production, saccharification and hydrolysis.

There was therefore a need for a method to ferment biomass and to obtain ethanol and optionally other metabolites, which could be implemented under significantly better operating conditions than those of current methods, and which at the same time could be more easily piloted than known methods and capable of leading to fermentation products that are cheaper and easier to upgrade.

The invention is able to bring solutions to these expectations and to provide improved methods to draw benefit from biomass by producing alternative bioenergy products, which are becoming increasingly necessary due to the significant reduction in energy sources of fossil origin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for producing bioenergy products or metabolites. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of particular microorganisms for producing bioenergy products or metabolites from biomass or derivatives thereof. The invention derives inter alia from the discovery that microorganisms of the genus Deinococcus have unexpected and advantageous properties for modification or conversion of biomass or biomass derivatives with a view to obtaining compounds which can be used to produce bioenergy, ethanol in particular, on an industrial scale and both economically and reliably.

An object of the present invention therefore resides in a method of production of bioenergy products or metabolites comprising contacting a biomass or biomass derivatives with a native or modified bacterium having the capacity to reassemble its genome, in full or in part, when disrupted by a stress, preferably a native or modified bacterium of the genus Deinococcus, or an extract thereof.

A further object of this invention is a method of converting biomass or biomass derivatives into bioenergy products or metabolites comprising treating said biomass or biomass derivatives in the presence of a bacterium of the genus Deinococcus or a bacterium having the capacity to reassemble its genome, in full or in part, when disrupted by a stress, or an extract thereof.

In a particular aspect, the present invention relates to a method comprising the following steps:

-   -   a) culturing and/or growing said bacterium in aerobic and/or         anaerobic conditions,     -   b) modifying a biomass or biomass derivatives into bioenergy         products or metabolites of industrial interest (e.g., bioenergy         sources such as ethanol, chemical building blocks such as         succinic acid) using a composition comprising said bacterium or         an extract thereof, and     -   c) collecting at least one bioenergy product or metabolite         resulting from said modification of biomass or biomass         derivatives.

This invention also relates to the use of a bacterium of the genus Deinococcus or an extract thereof for producing bioenergy products or metabolites from biomass or biomass derivatives.

The invention also relates to a composition comprising a Deinococcus bacterium and a biomass or biomass derivatives.

The invention also relates to bioenergy products produced using a method as described above.

The method of the invention can be performed using various native or modified Deinococcus species, such as, without limitation, Deinococcus geothermalis, Deinococcus radiodurans, Deinococcus murrayi or Deinococcus cellulosilyticus. The present invention shows that Deinococcus bacteria can efficiently promote the production of biofuels, such as ethanol, propanol, butanol glycerol, butanediol, propanediol, or organic acids of chemical interest and their salts, such as acetic acid, propionic acid, pyruvic acid, butyric acid, lactic acid and/or succinic acid or esters, in particular esters formed between the above-mentioned alcohols and acids.

The invention also unexpectedly shows that Deinococcus can be operated under conditions, such as elevated temperatures, a broad range of pH, presence of solvents, presence of raw substrates, suitable to produce high amounts of bioenergy products or metabolites from various substrates.

The invention thus provides novel methods and compositions for producing bioenergy products or metabolites in a very efficient manner.

LEGEND TO THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: Bactericide effect of ethanol on Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11301 in exponential growth phase: the bactericide potential of ethanol is significant for content higher than 8.2% in exponential growth phase.

FIG. 2: Bactericide effect of ethanol on Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11301 in stationary phase: the bactericide potential of ethanol is significant for content higher than 11.7% in stationary phase.

FIG. 3: Bactericide effect of butanol on Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300 in exponential growth phase: the bactericide potential of butanol is significant for content higher than 1.5% in exponential phase.

FIG. 4: Bactericide effect of butanol on Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300 in stationary phase: the bactericide potential of butanol is significant for content higher than 2% in stationary phase.

FIG. 5: Ethanol effect on Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300 growth: black square, 0% ethanol; white square, 0.8% ethanol; black circle, 1.2% ethanol; white circle 2.4% ethanol; black triangle, 3.1% ethanol.

FIG. 6A: Effect of pH on the growth of D. geothermalis DSM113000 (DRH05): black square, pH8; black circle, pH 7; white square, pH6; white circle, pH5; black diamond, pH4.

FIG. 6B: Effect of pH on the growth of D. geothermalis HAMBI 2481 (DRH37): black square, pH8; black circle, pH 7; white square, pH6; white circle, pH5; black diamond, pH4.

FIG. 6C: Effect of pH on the growth of D. geothermalis HAMBI 2480 (DRH38): black square, pH8; black circle, pH 7; white square, pH6; white circle, pH5; black diamond, pH4.

FIG. 6D: Effect of pH on the growth of D. geothermalis HAMBI 2411 (DRH39): black square, pH8; black circle, pH 7; white square, pH6; white circle, pH5; black diamond, pH4.

FIG. 7: Growth of D. cellulosilyticus in different liquid media. The bacteria were grown as described in material and methods of example 9. Black circle, growth in rich medium; black square, growth in CM-cellulose-containing minimal medium; white square, growth in minimal medium devoid of carbon source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods for the production of bioenergy products or metabolites using Deinococcus bacteria. The invention indeed shows that Deinococcus bacteria can produce bioenergy products or metabolites from biomass, in a very efficient way.

DEFINITIONS

In the context of the present application, the term “bacteria of the genus Deinococcus” includes wild type or natural variant strains of Deinococcus as well as recombinant strains, strains obtained through DNA-shuffling technologies or through directed evolution technologies.

An “extract of a bacterium” designates any fraction obtained from a bacterium, such as a cell supernatant, a cell debris, cell walls, DNA extract, enzymes or enzyme preparation or any preparation derived from bacteria by chemical, physical and/or enzymatic treatment, which is essentially free of living bacteria.

Within the context of the present invention, the term “bioenergy” designates a renewable energy derived from biomass. More specifically, the term “bioenergy products” designates “biofuels” and all final products of modification of biomass or biomass derivatives that can be used as fuels, such as ethanol. The term “metabolites” designates all possible intermediate molecules generated during the modification of biomass or biomass derivatives into bioenergy products, including but not limited to several chemical products of industrial interest, such as organic acids and building blocks.

Within the context of the present invention, the term “biomass” refers to living and recently dead biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce biofuels, but it also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibers, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. The term biomass does not include organic material which has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum.

Industrial biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants, including miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, sugarbeet, wheat, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane, and a variety of tree species, ranging from eucalyptus to oil palm.

The biomass according to the invention comprises raw biomass and/or secondary biomass. The raw biomass is unprocessed material from biological matter. Examples include forestry products, such as mature trees unsuitable for lumber or paper production, agricultural products, such as grasses, crops and animal manure, and aquatic products, such as algae and seaweed. The secondary biomass is any material initially derived from raw biomass, which has undergone significant chemical and physical changes. Examples include paper, leather, cotton, hemp, natural rubber products, food processing by-products, and used cooking oils.

As used herein, the term “biomass derivatives” designates all molecules derived from raw biomass and/or from secondary biomass, as defined above, and in particular any material initially derived from raw biomass, which has undergone significant chemical and physical changes, such as for example, starch, cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin.

As used herein, “intermediate platforms” are molecules obtained through physicochemical or biochemical transformation of biomass derivatives, such as sugars, starch and bio-based synthetic gas (syngas).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention proposes to use Deinococcus bacteria to produce bioenergy products or metabolites from biomass. The present invention indeed shows that bacteria of the genus Deinococcus exhibit unexpected properties which allow them to cooperate in the production of bioenergy products or metabolites, by fermenting biomass or biomass derivatives.

Deinococcus bacteria have been shown to have the capacity to reassemble their genome, in full or in part, when disrupted by a stress (PCT/EP2006/005826 Radman-Zahradka). As mentioned before, these bacteria, particularly D. radiodurans, have been proposed for bioremediation. However, it has never been disclosed or suggested that Deinococcus bacteria would be able to produce bioenergy products and metabolites from biomass. In addition, it had never been suggested that Deinococcus bacteria having the required biological properties could be isolated and cultivated.

The invention now shows, for the first time, that it is possible to isolate or cultivate Deinococcus bacteria having at least one of the following properties, and that said bacteria are able to produce bioenergy products or metabolites:

-   -   it is viable or functional at high temperatures (e.g., around         40-70° C.);     -   it is viable or functional within a pH range from around 3 to         around 9.5, preferably between around 4 and around 8;     -   it is viable or functional in the presence of toxic agents, in         particular organic solvents, e.g., ethanol;     -   it is able to convert C6 and C5 sugars;

it is able to promote cellulose digestion to yield glucose;

-   -   it is able to promote hemicellulose digestion to yield xylose;     -   it is able to grow in aerobic and/or anaerobic conditions in the         presence of an appropriate carbon source.

Furthermore, Deinococcus bacteria are typically devoid of any pathogenicity and can therefore be used without specific confinement.

The invention thus discloses, for the first time, the ability of Deinococcus bacteria to make bioenergy products or metabolites from biomass, as well as their unexpected capacity to be grown and cultivated under specific conditions adapted to such use. The invention also proposes to use, for production of bioenergy products or metabolites, any bacteria having the capacity to reassemble their genome, in full or in part, when disrupted by a stress.

In a preferred embodiment, the method of this invention uses a thermophilic Deinococcus species, preferably selected from Deinococcus geothermalis, Deinococcus radiodurans and Deinococcus murrayi.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method uses a Deinococcus bacterium viable in the presence of toxic agents, in particular in the presence of organic solvents, for example ethanol. The present application indeed shows that Deinococcus strains can be grown in the presence of high levels of solvents, such as ethanol or butanol, allowing production of biofuels in a more efficient way.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the method uses a bacterium that can be grown in a temperature range from approximately 40 to 70° C., preferably from 50° C. to 60° C. In a more preferred embodiment, the method uses a bacterium which can both be grown under elevated temperature (above 40° C.) and in the presence of a toxic agent or organic solvent, as disclosed above.

In a further particular embodiment of the present invention, the method uses a Deinococcus bacterium which can be viable or functional under concentration conditions of NaCl or equivalent salts possibly reaching around 5% weight/volume.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the method uses a bacterium which is viable in a pH interval between approximately 3 and 9.5, preferably between 4 and 8. Indeed, the inventors have discovered that Deinococcus strains can be maintained under such stringent conditions, which are particularly advantageous for converting biomass.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention uses a Deinococcus bacterium that is able to convert C6 and/or C5 sugars and/or to promote the digestion of cellulose to generate glucose and/or to promote the digestion of hemicellulose to generate xylose.

In a particular embodiment, invention relates to a method, wherein said Deinococcus bacterium is able to grow in the presence of xylan and to promote the digestion of xylan.

Such enzymatic activities, combined with a high thermoresistance, a broad range of pH tolerance and toxic agents tolerance, have never been reported before and are remarkable. As shown in the examples, Deinococcus bacteria having the above properties can be isolated, cultivated, and produce substantial amounts of bioenergy products or metabolites from biomass.

In this regard, another advantage of the invention resides in a method, wherein said Deinococcus bacteria are grown in a minimal medium containing C6 sugars, preferably glucose, or more complex sugars, preferably sucrose, cellobiose or starch, or C5 sugars, preferably xylose, as carbon source. A further advantage of the present invention resides in the fact that said Deinococcus bacteria can be grown in the presence of C3 carbohydrates, preferably, glycerol or sodium pyruvate.

Specific examples of bacteria suitable for use in the present invention are Deinococcus geothermalis strains with deposition no. DSM11300, DSM11301, DSM11302, HAMBI2480, HAMBI2481 and HAMBI2411; Deinococcus murrayi strains with deposition no. DSM11303 and DSM11305; or Deinococcus cellulosilyticus strain with deposition no. DSM18568^(T) (listed in the Table 1), or strains substantially similar thereto or mutants thereof.

TABLE 1 List of Deinococcus strains Designa- Temp Bibliographic tion Genus Species Ref Code ° C. Reference DRH 05 Deino- geother- DSM 11300 45-50 Ferreira et al, coccus malis 1997 Int J Syst Bacteriol, 47(4):939-47 DRH 06 Deino- geother- DSM 11301 45-50 Ferreira et al, coccus malis 1997 Int J Syst Bacteriol, 47(4):939-47 DRH 07 Deino- geother- DSM 11302 45-50 Ferreira et al, coccus malis 1997 Int J Syst Bacteriol, 47(4):939-47 DRH 37 Deino- geother- HAMBI  2481 45-50 Kolari et al, coccus malis 2003 J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, 30: 225-238 DRH 38 Deino- geother- HAMBI  2480 45-50 Kolari et al, coccus malis 2003 J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 30: 225-238 DRH 39 Deino- geother- HAMBI  2411 45-50 Väisänen et al, coccus malis 1997, Applied Microbiology 84:1069-1084 DRH 08 Deino- murrayi DSM 11303 45-50 Ferreira et al, coccus 1997 Int J Svst Bacteriol, 47(4):939-47 DRH 10 Deino- murrayi DSM 11305 45-50 Ferreira et al, coccus 1997 Int J Syst Bacteriol, 47(4):939-47 DRH 46 Deino- cellulos- DSM  18568^(T) Weon et al, coccus ilyticus 2007, Int J of Syst & Evolutionary Microbiol, 57, 1685-1688

All the strains listed in the table above are able to grow in a PGY-type culture medium at pH7. Other suitable culture media are disclosed in the experimental section.

It should be understood that additional Deinococcus strains having the properties as presently demonstrated and discovered can now be screened and identified by the skilled artisan, based on the teachings of the present application, e.g., by following guidance and tests as described in the experimental section.

As mentioned above, Deinococcus strains as used in the present application can be used either in native form, or modified (e.g., chemically or genetically) to acquire improved properties. In this regard, in a particular embodiment, the method uses a Deinococcus bacterium that is modified by accelerated evolution or by DNA shuffling technologies or by insertion of eukaryote, prokaryote or synthetic non-Deinococcus DNA or by insertion of another Deinococcus strain DNA, said modification affecting viability, growth or functions of the said bacterium in order to promote the modification of biomass.

In another embodiment of the invention, the bacterium used can be a recombinant or modified bacterial strain, advantageously using a method such as described in the international patent application No. PCT/EP2006/005826.

As discussed above, the invention shows that bacteria of the genus Deinococcus, or derivatives thereof, selected e.g., among D. geothermalis, D. radiodurans or D. murrayi, exhibit advantageous properties and are able to produce bioenergy products or metabolites from various raw substrates. The present invention therefore relates to the use of bacteria of the genus Deinococcus for the production of bioenergy products or metabolites from biomass or biomass derivatives. The present invention also relates to a method of producing bioenergy products or metabolites from biomass or biomass derivatives by exposing or culturing said biomass in the presence of bacteria of the genus Deinococcus, or an extract thereof, and recovering the bioenergy product or metabolite produced.

Culture or exposition can be made in any suitable condition or environment allowing modification of the biomass or derivative to produce bioenergy product. In this regard, the method can be performed in a reactor, in a fermentor, outdoor, in the presence of suitable nutrients or additives, if needed. The method is typically conducted under pH conditions, temperature above 40° C., and in the presence of suitable substrates.

A particular object of this invention resides in a method comprising the following steps:

-   -   a) culturing and/or growing said bacterium in aerobic and/or         anaerobic conditions,     -   b) modifying (e.g., converting or treating) biomass or biomass         derivatives into bioenergy products or metabolites using a         composition comprising said bacterium or an extract thereof, and     -   c) collecting at least one bioenergy product or metabolite         resulting from said modification of biomass or biomass         derivatives.

Another object of the invention resides in a method to convert biomass or biomass derivatives using at least one bacterium or bacterial extract such as defined above or a composition such as described above, comprising a combination of:

-   -   at least one operation of placing in culture and developing said         bacterial strain or said bacterial strain extract under suitable         growth and development conditions,     -   at least one operation to convert biomass or a biomass         derivative under the action of suitable quantities of said         bacterial strain or said bacterial strain extract, under         conditions suitable for said conversion of biomass, or biomass         derivates, and     -   collecting at least one bioenergy product or metabolite derived         from said conversion of biomass or biomass derivative, in         particular collecting the ethanol thus produced.

In the above methods, the first step of culturing and/or growing said bacterium and the second step of modifying biomass or biomass derivatives into bioenergy products or metabolites using a composition comprising said bacterium or an extract thereof, can be carried out either simultaneously, or sequentially; the third step of collecting bioenergy products or metabolites can be carried out simultaneously with the first and/or the second step, or sequentially. In this regard, the biomass can be contacted with the bacterium under suitable conditions to allow expansion of said bacterium, thereby increasing the efficiency of the process. Alternatively, bacterial strains can be expanded separately, under suitable culture conditions, and subsequently added to the biomass. It should be understood that the precise amounts of bacteria used initially in order to efficiently transform biomass into substantial bioenergy products or metabolites can be adjusted by the skilled artisan depending on the type of bacteria, the type of biomass or derivatives, and the culture conditions.

In a particular embodiment of the method according to the invention, the Deinococcus bacteria are grown separately from biomass conversion.

In another particular embodiment, the method uses a composition comprising a Deinococcus bacterium or an extract thereof and at least one suitable additive or excipient, preferably at least one agent chosen from the group consisting of anti-foam agents and nutrient agents. Suitable anti-foam agents are dispersants, detergents and surfactants in particular, and more generally amphiphilic compounds.

In a particular embodiment, the method of the invention is performed in a reactor of conversion of biomass. By “reactor” is meant a conventional fermentation tank or any apparatus or system for biomass conversion specially designed to implement the invention and therefore consisting in particular of bioreactors, biofilters, rotary biological contactors, and other gaseous and/or liquid phase bioreactors for the treatment of biomass or biomass derivatives. The apparatus which can be used according to the invention can be used continuously or in batch loads.

In the reactor, to implement the method of the invention, at least one bacterium or bacterial extract of the invention is used, and/or at least one composition such as defined above, whilst said reactor is arranged and supplied so that physicochemical conditions are set up and maintained therein so that said bacterium is operational for the application under consideration and so that, optionally, bacterial growth is possible and preferably promoted therein.

In another embodiment of the method of the invention, the bacteria are grown in a reactor, during the conversion of biomass or biomass derivatives, whilst suitable physicochemical conditions are set up and maintained for this bacterial growth to be possible, and preferably promoted. For example, a 500 ml Erlenmeyer can be used in the presence of 100 ml of 167 Thermus medium or minimum medium described below at a temperature of 50° C.

In alternative embodiments of the invention, the conversion of biomass or biomass derivatives is conducted under aerobiosis, anaerobiosis or under microaerobiosis.

According to a further aspect, the object of the invention is a reactor for the conversion of biomass or biomass derivatives, using at least one Deinococcus bacterium or bacterial extract such as defined above, or a composition such as defined above.

The process of this invention can be used to produce bioenergy from various types of biomass. In a preferred embodiment, the biomass comprises wood and wood residues, forest residues, paper mill residues, agricultural crops, agricultural residues, edible and/or non-edible plants or parts thereof, straw, garden wastes, aquatic plants, animal wastes, livestock operation residues, manure, organic municipal wastes and/or industrial organic wastes. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes.

In a particular embodiment, the invention concerns a method of modifying biomass or biomass derivatives or intermediate platforms into bioenergy products or metabolites, wherein the biomass derivatives are preferably lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, starch, and wherein intermediate platforms are preferably carbohydrates, such as xylan, glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, glucomannan, xyloglucan, starch, sucrose, lactose, maltose, trehalose, glucose, xylose, mannose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose and/or fructose.

A particular object of the invention resides in a method for the production of biofuels. Within the context of the present invention, the term “biofuel” designates a fuel derived from a leaving or recently dead biological carbon source. The biofuel may be produced from renewable resources, especially plant or animal biomass, or from municipal and industrial wastes. The biofuel according to the invention comprises “first generation biofuel” and/or “second generation biofuel”.

The first generation biofuels are obtained from vegetal or animal organic material, preferably from sugar, starch, vegetable oil or animal fats. The main source for the production of first generation biofuels are edible plants or parts thereof. The first generation biofuels include vegetable oil, biodiesel, bioalcohols, biogas, syngas and solid biofuels. Bioalcohols include ethanol, propanol and butanol. More preferably, the method of the invention is used for the production of ethanol, propanol, butanol. The most preferred biofuel is ethanol.

The second generation biofuels are produced preferably from non-edible plants or non-edible parts of plants. They include non food crops, biomass wastes, stalks of wheat, corn and wood. Preferably, the biofuel according to the invention include cellulosic biofuels.

Depending on the starting biomass, the production of bioenergy products or metabolites, such as biofuel, can require two successive steps: a step of hydrolysis, catalyzed by enzymes, preferably cellulases or laccases, which break down long, complex-carbohydrate chains, such as cellulose or lignin respectively, into smaller fermentable sugars; and a step of fermentation, which further breaks down organic compounds, such as sugars, into alcohols. It should be pointed out that Deinococcus strains according to the present invention may be used for either one or both of said reactions. Indeed, the invention shows that Deinococcus can hydrolyze long carbohydrate chains (e.g., xylan or cellulose) and can also produce metabolites (e.g., ethanol, glycerol, butanediol, propanediol, as well as acetic, propionic, pyruvic and butyric acids) from C3, C5 or C6 sugars. If desired, however, it should be noted that Deinococcus strains may be used in combination with any other bacterial strains.

The following examples are given for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Selection Tests

To determine whether a microorganism is equipped with the properties required by the invention, specific tests must be conducted in order to determine whether a genus, a species and/or a bacterial strain is able to have the required properties and to function in a method for the conversion of biomass or biomass derivatives, and to determine which significant improvements can thereby be obtained.

These specific tests according to the invention are conducted in the following conditions:

Culture Medium:

D. geothermalis (D.G.) is cultured at 50° C. under agitation, in an aerobic medium. The 167 culture medium is used to maintain the strains. The minimum medium is used in fermentation experiments, in particular to characterize the metabolites. In this case, 500 ml of culture medium are incubated 1 to 7 days under agitation in a 1 L Erlenmeyer, after being seeded with 5 ml of D. G. confluent culture.

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Thermus medium Tryptone 1 g Yeast extract 1 g Agar 28 g Nitrilotriacetic acid 100 mg CaSO₄ × 2 H₂O 40 mg MgCl₂ × 6 H₂O 200 mg 0.01M Fe citrate 0.5 ml Solution of trace elements (see below) 0.5 ml Phosphate buffer (see below) 100 ml H₂O 900 ml Adjust to pH 7.2 with NaOH, autoclave at 121° C. for 15 min. autoclave the phosphate buffer separately and add to the medium

Phosphate buffer KH₂PO₄ 5.44 g Na₂HPO₄ × 12 H₂O 43 g H₂O 1000 ml Adjust to pH 7.2

Solution of trace elements: H₂SO₄ 0.5 ml MnSO₄ × H₂O 2.28 g ZnSO₄ × 7 H₂O 0.5 g H₃BO₃ 0.5 g CuSO₄ × 5 H₂O 25 mg Na₂MoO₄ × 2 H₂O 25 mg CoCl₂ × 6 H₂O 45.00 mg H₂O 1000 ml

Minimum Medium

MOPS Buffer MOPS acid 400 mM NH₄Cl 200 mM NaOH 100 mM KOH 100 mM CaCl₂ 5M K₂SO₄ 276 mM MgCl₂ 5.28 mM pH 7, filtered, sterilised

Carbon source Glucose 160 mM Filtered, sterilised

Phosphate K₂HPO₄ 12.3 mM KH₂PO₄ 7.7 mM Filtered, sterilised

Vitamins D-biotin 10 μM Niacine 10 μM Pyridoxal-HCl 10 μM Thiamine-HCl 10 μM Store at pH 4, filtered, sterilised

Solution of trace elements H₂SO₄ 5 ml MnSO₄ × H₂O 22.8 g ZnSO₄ × 7 H₂O 5 g H₃BO₃ 5 g CuSO₄ × 5 H₂O 250 mg Na₂MoO₄ × 2 H₂O 250 mg CoCl₂ × 6 H₂O 450 mg H₂O 1000 ml Filtered, sterilised

Iron Source FeCl₃ 200M Sodium citrate 200M Filtered, sterilised

Amino Acids Ser 100 mM Gln 100 mM Filtered, sterilised These storage solutions in the concentrated 10× state are diluted extemporaneously. Detection of the laccase activity of the bacterium

Principle:

Syringaldazine+O₂->Oxidized Syringaldazine+2H₂O Laccase

Reagents:

-   A. 100 mM Potassium Phosphate buffer, pH 6.5 at 30° C. -   B. 0.216 mM Syringaldazine (3 ml are prepared in absolute ethanol     from Syringaldazine obtained from Sigma Prod., No. S-7896.) -   C. Enzyme

test blank H₂O 0.50 ml Non-fermented medium, 0.5 ml or dilution Reagent A 2.20 ml 2.20 ml Reagent B  0.3 ml  0.3 ml Reagent C Fermented medium, 0 0.5 ml or dilution The increase in optical density is recorded at 530 nm.

Under these conditions, one unit of enzyme produces an increase in optical density of 0.001 per minute at pH 6.5 and at 30° C.

Detection of the Cellulase Activity of the Bacterium: Principle:

The test is based on follow-up of the conversion of NAD into NADH during degradation of the cellulose. An increase in absorbency is then monitored at 340 nm following the supplier's instructions, available on the internet link: (See Worldwide Website: sigmaaldrich.com/img/assets/18160/Cellulase.pdf)

Detection of Ethanol Production:

Ethanol is quantified using two methods.

Enzymatic Method:

This method is based on follow-up of the conversion of NAD into NADH in the presence of ethanol and alcohol dehydrogenase.

This reaction translates as in increase in absorbency at 340 nm. For this measurement, the Sigma N7160, kit was used following the manufacturer's instructions available on the Internet link:

(See Worldwide Website: sigmaaldrich.com/sigma/bulletin/N7160BUL.pdf).

Measurement by Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography Conditions:

HPLC Gilson with automatic injector, detection by refractometry, Column: Phenomenex Rezex ROA, 300 mm×7.8 mm Column temperature: 65° C. Mobile phase: 0.005 N sulphuric acid Flow rate: 0.600 ml/min

First a calibration curve is made by injecting culture medium containing known concentrations of ethanol into the column. The peak area eluted at 22.26 min corresponding to ethanol is measured. A calibration curve is plotted.

Next, the quantity of ethanol produced by the bacterium is measured by injecting the culture supernatant into the column. The peak area eluted at 22.26 min and corresponding to ethanol is measured. The concentration of ethanol present in the supernatant is deduced by comparison with the calibration curve.

The detection and quantification of the other metabolites possibly produced in diverse proportions can be made following conventional methods of analysis and evaluation.

Bacteria are haploid organisms which reproduce by binary division and which feed on mineral and organic substances found in the environment.

Their gas requirements, especially with respect to oxygen, are varied and the culture and fermentation techniques to be used must be adapted according to whether they are strict aerobic, strict anaerobic or facultative aero-anaerobic microorganisms.

The activity of cellulase, advantageously required by the invention, takes part in the degradation of cellulose, whilst the activity of laccase allows or facilitates the degradation of lignin.

The production, from fermentation of biomass, of bioenergy products such as ethanol in particular and/or other metabolites is performed following the operating conditions being adapted subsequent to iterative tests to the conditions and parameters of the technique of the present invention, which are in particular, the quantities of bacterial culture medium, the operating conditions of temperature and/or pressure, and the options of aerobic, anaerobic or microaerobic fermentation.

Following the specific tests and assays described above, the selected natural or genetically modified strains are implemented according to the method of the invention.

Example 2 Production of Ethanol in the Presence of Deinococcus Geothermalis

In a 500 ml Erlenmeyer, containing 100 ml minimum medium at 50° C., an inoculum of 10¹⁰ D. geothermalis (DG) is added at 50° C. The culture is placed under agitation to promote aeration.

This culture is then ready to be used in a conventional biomass fermentation tank in which, under the best conditions, ethanol and other metabolites can be obtained with an excellent yield at 55° C.

After 1 to 7 days in the reactor with the biomass to be treated, the presence of the above-mentioned ethanol and metabolites was quantified by HPLC (following the protocol described above). Disappearance of glucose was observed and concomitant production of ethanol, whose concentration was estimated analytically. Other metabolites of interest were detected. The replacement of glucose by xylose in the culture medium also allows bacterial growth and the production of ethanol.

In one variant of embodiment of this example, similar results can be obtained by conducting both bacterial culture and fermentation in the same tank.

Example 3 Bactericide Effects of Ethanol and Butanol on Deinococcus Geothermalis Material and Methods

This method enables evaluation of the bactericide effects of organic solvents on bacteria in growth or in stationary phase. The solvents tested are ethanol and butanol. The bacteria tested belonging to the genus Deinococcus:

-   -   develop between 40 and 70° C.     -   are operational between pH3 and pH9.5     -   are able to reassemble, in full or in part, their genome split         by a stress, notably by irradiation, in particular by UV or         gamma rays, by dessiccation, by enzyme action, by ultrasound or         by chemical stress.

The test is to be carried out at the optimal growth temperature for the strain tested. From a pre-culture in stationary phase in an enriched medium, 10 ml of enriched medium is seeded at 1% v/v. The enriched medium contains: peptone 2 g/l, yeast extract 5 g/l and glucose 10 g/l: solution sterilized by autoclaving (20 minutes at 120° C.). To this solution are added the following solutions: MOPS buffer (10×) pH7 [acid MOPS 400 mM, NH₄Cl 200 mM, NaOH 1000 mM, KOH 100 mM, CaCl₂ 5 μM, Na₂SO₄ 2.76 mM, MgCl₂ 5.28 mM]; micronutriments (10000×) [(NH₄)₆(Mo₇) 24 300 mM, H₃BO₃ 4 mM, CoCl₂ 0.3 mM, CuSO₄ 0.1 mM, MnCl₂ 2.5 mM, ZnSO₄ 0.1 mM]; FeCl₃ (100×) 20 mM in C₆H₅Na₃O₇ 20 mM; K₂HPO₄ 1 g/l: solutions sterilized by filtration (45 μm).

200 μl of culture are distributed on a 96-well microplate. To avoid any phenomenon of solvent evaporation, the microplate is covered with an impervious sterile film.

Once the exponential growth phase (optical density of 0.5 at 600 nm), or once the stationary phase (plateau), is reached, the solvent is added. The content tested is 0 to 31% for ethanol and 0 to 2.5% for butanol. The culture is then incubated under agitation for one hour.

Count: At the end of incubation, and for each concentration in solvent, 20 μl of culture are transferred onto another microplate and are diluted in cascade (dilutions at 1/10 over 9 wells). The dilution culture medium is an enriched medium. 5 μl of each dilution are laid in triplicate on PGY agar medium. peptone 5 g/l, yeast extract 2.5 g/l, glucose 0.5 g/l, agar 14 g/l: medium sterilized by autoclaving 20 minutes at 120° C. Once growth permits, for each percentage of solvent tested, a count is carried out to evaluate the influence of organic solvents on the strain.

Results

The concentration of solvent at which we consider there is a loss of bacterial viability corresponds to the minimum concentration of solvent at which we observe the loss of one log in relation to the control.

The strains tested (FIGS. 1 to 4) present satisfactory resistance to the solvents from the perspective of an industrial application in a fermenter.

Example 4 Growth of Bacteria in the Presence of C3, C5 and C6 Carbon Sources Material and Methods

Pre-cultures were carried out either in medium A containing peptone (2 g/l), yeast extract (5 g/l), glucose (10 g/l) or in PGY medium. After centrifugation of the culture medium, the bacterial pellet was washed twice with minimal medium A to eliminate all sources of nutriment in the inoculum. This inoculum was used to seed (1/66) culture medium A (200 μl) containing one of the following sources of carbon at 1% (w/v): D(+)glucose, D(+)cellobiose, sucrose, starch, D(+)xylose, xylan from birch wood, glycerol, sodium pyruvate. In the case of strains DRH07, DRH39, DRH08 and DRH10, glutamate (10 mM) was added to the culture medium. Bacterial growth was conducted at 45° C. on 96-well microplates under agitation and followed by measuring the optical density at 544 nm using a spectrophotometer (Chameleon multilabel detection Platform plate, ScienceTec) or at 600 nm using a spectrostar OMEGA microplate reader (BMG Labtech).

References of carbon sources used: Xylan from birch wood (95588, Fluka), cellobiose (22150, Fluka), D(+)xylose (95730, Fluka), glucose (G8270-1KG, Sigma), sucrose (S9378-1KG, Sigma), starch (59765-500G, Sigma), glycerol (453752, CarloErba), sodium pyruvate (Sigma).

Composition and Preparation of Culture Media

PGY Medium: Peptone (10 g/l), glucose (1 g/l), yeast extract (5 g/l), the mixture is autoclaved for 20 minutes at 120° C.

Medium A: The various solutions used to prepare medium A were prepared from a stock solution sterilized by filtration:

-   -   A solution (pH7) containing: acid MOPS buffer 40 mM, NH₄Cl 20         mM, KOH 10 mM, NaOH 10 mM, CaCl₂ 0.5 μM, Na₂SO₄ 0.276 mM, MgCl₂         0.528 mM.     -   A solution of micronutriments (pH5): (NH₄)₆(MO₇)₂₄ 3 nM, H₃BO₃         400 nM, CoCl₂ 30 nM, CuSO₄ 10 nM, MnCl₂ 250 nM, ZnSO₄ 10 nM.     -   Solution of vitamins, pH4, (1 μg/l each): D-biotin, niacin,         pyridoxal-HCl, thiamin-HCl, vitamin B12.     -   Source of phosphate: K₂HPO₄ 5.7 mM.     -   FeCl₃ 20 μM (prepared in a solution of sodium citrate then         filtered).

Results

The bacteria listed in Table 2 (below) are able to multiply in a minimal culture medium (medium A) containing as the only source of carbon, sugar in C6 such as glucose, saccharose, cellobiose and starch. It should be noted that strains DRH37 and DRH06 are also able to grow in the presence of glycerol and sodium pyruvate (carbohydrates in C3).

The bacteria listed in Table 3 are also able to multiply in a minimal culture medium containing sugars in C5 (xylose or xylan) as the only source of carbon; with the exception of strains DRH06 and DRH07 which are not able to grow in the presence of xylan and xylose respectively.

TABLE 2 Test of assimilation of various sources of carbon in C6 and C3 carried out on various species of D. geothermalis and D. murrayi D. geothermalis D. murrayi Carbon sources at 1% (w/v) DRH05 DRH06 DRH07 DRH37 DRH38 DRH39 DRH08 DRH10 Carbohydrates inC6 : D-(+)-glucose +++ + ++ ++ +++ +++ + + D-(+)-cellobiose ++ − +++ +++ ++ +++ ++ − Sucrose +++ ++ ++ ++ +++ +++ ++ − Starch +++ ++ ++ ++ +++ − ++ − Carbohydrates inC3 : Glycerol − − − ++ − − − − Sodium Pyruvate − + − − − − − − −ΔOD < 0.2; +ΔOD = 0.2; ++0.3 ≧ ΔOD > 0.4; +++0.4 ≧ ΔOD ≧ 0.5; ++++ΔOD ≧ 0.6. ΔOD corresponds to the difference between the value of OD at 544 nm at initial time T0 of growth and to the time T196 hours (approximately 8 days).

TABLE 3 Test of assimilation of various sources of carbon in C5 and C6 carried out on various species of D. geothermalis Carbon source 1% (w/v) DRH05 DRH06 DRH07 DRH37 DRH38 DRH39 D-(+)-glucose +++ ++ + ++++ +++ +++ Xylan +++ − + ++++ ++++ ++++ Xylose +++ +++ − ++++ +++ + −ΔOD < 0.2; +ΔOD = 0.2; ++0.3 ≧ ΔOD > 0.4; +++0.4 ≧ ΔOD ≧ 0.5; ++++ΔOD ≧ 0.6. ΔOD corresponds to the difference between the value of OD at 600 nm at the initial time T0 of growth and at time T64 hours (approximately 2.5 days).

Example 5 Growth of Bacteria in High Ethanol Concentration Material and Methods

This method enables evaluation of the ability of a micro-organism to develop in the presence of a high concentration of ethanol. The bacteria tested belonging to the species Deinococcus geothermalis:

-   -   develop between 40 and 70° C.,     -   are operational between pH3 and pH9.5,     -   are able to reassemble, in part or in full, their genome split         by a stress, notably by irradiation, in particular by UV or         gamma rays, by dessiccation, by enzyme action, by ultrasound or         by chemical stress.

The test is to be carried out at optimal growth temperature for the strain tested. From a pre-culture in stationary phase in an enriched culture medium, for each ethanol content to be tested, 20 ml of enriched medium is seeded at 1% v/v. The enriched culture medium contains: peptone 2 g/l, yeast extract 5 g/l and glucose 10 g/l: solution sterilized by autoclaving (20 minutes at 120° C.). To this solution are added the following solutions: MOPS buffer (10×) pH7 [acid MOPS buffer 400 mM, NH₄Cl 200 mM, NaOH 1000 mM, KOH 100 mM, CaCl₂ 5 μM, Na₂SO₄ 2.76 mM, MgCl₂ 5.28 mM]; micronutriments (10000×) [(NH₄)₆(Mo₇) 24 300 mM, H₃BO₃ 4 mM, CoCl₂ 0.3 mM, CuSO₄ 0.1 mM, MnCl₂ 2.5 mM, ZnSO₄ 0.1 mM]; FeCl₃ (100×) 20 mM in C₆H₅Na₃O₇ 20 mM; K₂HPO₄ 1 g/l: solutions sterilized by filtration (45 μm).

Ethanol is added at T0, the content varies from 0 to 31%. A follow-up of growth is carried out for each ethanol content tested. OD is read at 600 nm using a spectrophotometer (UV Light XS5, SECOMAM). An aliquot part of 1 ml of culture is taken at times: T0, T0+1H, T0+3H, T0+18H, T0+20H, T0+22H, T0+24H.

When it is necessary for reading, the culture is diluted to one tenth in enriched medium. Growth curves can be drawn for each ethanol content tested. At the end of the incubation period and for each ethanol content tested, a count is taken to assess the influence of the ethanol on the strain.

Results

Some strains tested, such as Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300, are able to grow in a culture medium containing ethanol (see FIG. 5). Some strains, such as Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300, show a resistance in culture media with a high ethanol content (see FIG. 6A).

Example 6 Production of Metabolites of Interest by Deinococcus Murrayi Material and Methods

This method enables evaluation of the ability of a micro-organism to produce metabolites of interest (in the group consisting of glycerol, butanediol, propanediol, and acetic, propionic, pyruvic and butyric acids) from biomass or a derivative of biomass. The bacteria tested belonging to the species Deinococcus geothermalis:

-   -   develop between 40 and 70° C.,     -   are operational between pH3 and pH9.5,     -   are able to reassemble, in part or in full, their genome split         by a stress, notably by irradiation, in particular by UV or         gamma rays, by dessiccation, by enzyme action, by ultrasound or         by chemical stress.

The test is to be carried out at optimal growth temperature for the strain tested. From a pre-culture (in stationary phase) prepared in an enriched culture medium, 20 ml of enriched medium are seeded: seeding at 1% v/v.

The enriched culture medium contains: peptone 2 g/l, yeast extract 5 g/l and glucose 10 g/l: solution sterilized by autoclaving (20 minutes at 120° C.). To this solution are added the following solutions: MOPS buffer solution (10×) pH7 [acid MOPS 400 mM, NH₄Cl 200 mM, NaOH 1000 mM, KOH 100 mM, CaCl₂ 5 μM, Na₂SO₄ 2.76 mM, MgCl₂ 5.28 mM]; micronutriments (10000×) [(NH₄)₆(Mo₇)24 300 mM, H₃BO₃ 4 mM, CoCl₂ 0.3 mM, CuSO₄ 0.1 mM, MnCl₂ 2.5 mM, ZnSO₄ 0.1 mM]; FeCl₃ (100×) 20 mM in C₆H₅Na₃O₇ 20 mM; K₂HPO₄ 1 g/l: solutions sterilized by filtration (45 μm).

The culture is left in an incubator, at 45° C., under agitation, until it reaches its stationary phase. Once the stationary phase is reached, the culture is centrifuged for 10 minutes at 4000 rpm. The supernatant is poured into another tube and is placed at −80° C. An HPLC UV analysis and refractometry (ion exchange column (H+)Biorad, mobile phase H₂SO₄ 5 mM, flow in mobile phase 0.6 ml/min, isocratic mode) enable the metabolites of interest to be identified.

Results

Some strains tested produce certain of the metabolites of interest sought (Table 4).

TABLE 4 Metabolites produced by Deinococcus murrayi DSM11305 (expressed in g/l). ACETIC PROPIONIC PYRUVIC GLUCOSE ACID ACID ACID DRH10 7.76 0.138 1.044 0.043 CM

Example 7 Growth of Deinococcus Geothermalis in Various pH Conditions Material and Methods

The strains are cultivated at 45° C. in PGY medium at different pH's. The pH was adjusted with NH₃ 10% (v/v) or HCl 10 N. Growth is followed by measuring optical density at 600 nm using a spectrostar microplate reader OMEGA, BMG Labtech.

Result

Four strains (D. geothermalis) were able to multiply in a pH range between 5 and 8 (see FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D).

Example 8 Isolation of UV-Resistant Thermophilic Bacteria from a Natural Environment Treatment of Hot Water Samples

The hot water samples are concentrated by filtration over a 0.22 μm nitrocellulose filter (Millipore, France) then placed in suspension in 10 ml of sterile water. The filtered solution is then sonicated for approximately 60 seconds to resuspend the bacteria.

Treatment of Wood and Pebble Samples

The wood and pebble samples are immersed in sterile water then vortexed and sonicated for approximately 60 seconds.

Treatment of Samples of Stones, Moss, Lichen, Mud, Sediment, Biofilm, Soil and Animal Dejection

The samples of moss, lichen, mud, soil and animal dejection are placed in suspension in sterile water (V/V) then vortexed. The samples are then sonicated for approximately 60 seconds.

Isolation of UV-Resistant Thermophilic Bacteria

Following sonication, between 500 μl and 2 ml, the suspensions are spread on a solid PGY-agar enriched culture medium sterilized by autoclaving (20 minutes at 120° C.) containing glucose (Sigma-Aldrich, France) 1 g/l, peptone (Fluka, France) 10 g/l and yeast extract (Fluka, France) 5 g/l. The seeded culture media then undergo 3 UV treatments using a BLX-E254 biolink (Vilber-Lourmat, France) of 4 mJ/cm² each carried out at an interval of 4 hours. After incubation at 45° C. for 3 to 4 days, the thermophilic colonies of interest are visible.

Example 9 Digestion of Cellulose by Deinococcus Cellulosilyticus Material and Methods

A pre-culture of the strain D. cellulosilyticus was carried out in an enriched medium (see composition below). This pre-culture is used to seed (1% v/v) 10 ml of enriched medium, of minimal medium containing carboxymethyl cellulose (CM-cellulose), or this same medium devoid of carbon source.

Growth of bacteria was carried out at 30° C. in 50 ml Falcon tubes under agitation (110 rpm) and followed by measuring optical density at 600 nm with a spectrophotometer (WPA Biowave, Cell density Meter).

Enriched medium: peptone 2 g/l; yeast extract 5 g/l; glucose 10 g/l; a solution (pH7) containing: acid MOPS 40 mM, NH₄Cl 20 mM, KOH 10 mM, NaOH 10 mM, CaCl₂ 0.5 μM, Na₂SO₄ 0.276 mM, MgCl₂ 0.528 mM; a solution of micronutriments (pH5): (NH₄)₆(MO₇)₂₄ 3 nM, H₃BO₃ 400 nM, CoCl₂ 30 nM, CuSO₄ 10 nM, MnCl₂ 250 nM, ZnSO₄ 10 nM; a solution of vitamins, pH4, (1 μg/l each): D-biotin, niacin, pyridoxal-HCl, thiamin-HCl, vitamin B12; a source of phosphate: K₂HPO₄ 5.7 mM; FeCl₃ 20 μM.

Minimal medium: a solution (pH7) containing: MOPS acid 40 mM, NH₄Cl 20 mM, KOH 10 mM, NaOH 10 mM, CaCl₂ 0.5 μM, Na₂SO₄ 0.276 mM, MgCl₂ 0.528 mM; a solution of micronutriments (pH5): (NH₄)₆(MO₇)₂₄ 3 nM, H₃BO₃ 400 nM, CoCl₂ 30 nM, CuSO₄ 10 nM, MnCl₂ 250 nM, ZnSO₄ 10 nM; a solution of vitamins, pH4, (1 μg/l each): D-biotin, niacin, pyridoxal-HCl, thiamin-HCl, vitamin B12; a source of phosphate: K₂HPO₄ 5.7 mM; FeCl₃ 20 μM.

Result

It was demonstrated that the strain D. cellulosilyticus referenced with DSMZ under number DSM 18568^(T) (Weon et al, 2007) possesses a CM-cellulose activity (Weon et al., 2007, international journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 57, 1685-1688.)

As is shown in FIG. 7, D. cellulosilyticus is able to multiply in a medium containing CM-cellulose as the only source of carbon; the variation in optical density at 600 nm after 10 days growth in this medium was significant (ΔDO_(600 nm)=0.5) compared with the control culture (medium devoid of carbon source; (ΔDO_(600 nm)=0.18). This result indicated that D. cellulosilyticus is not only able to degrade (depolymerise) CM-cellulose but also able to assimilate products derived from this degradation (cellobiose and glucose). 

We claim:
 1. A method of production of an organic acid comprising contacting vegetal biomass comprising xylan, cellulose and/or hemicellulose with a bacterium of the genus Deinococcus or with an extract of said bacterium, culturing said Deinococcus in contact with said vegetal biomass to produce an organic acid or reacting said extract with said vegetal biomass under conditions that permit the formation of an organic acid and collecting said organic acid, said organic acid being produced by said bacterium or extract thereof.
 2. The method according to claim 1, said method comprising: a) culturing and/or growing said bacterium in contact with vegetal biomass under aerobic and/or anaerobic conditions; and b) collecting at least one organic acid.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein steps a) and b) are carried out simultaneously or sequentially.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vegetal biomass is wood, wood residue, forest residue, mill residue, agricultural crop, agricultural residue, an edible and/or non-edible plant or parts thereof, straw, garden waste, an aquatic plant, manure, organic municipal wastes, industrial organic wastes and/or biodegradable wastes.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vegetal biomass further comprises lignin, glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, glucomannan, xyloglucan, starch, sucrose, lactose, maltose trehalose, glucose, xylose, mannose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose and/or fructose.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bacterium is viable in the presence of toxic agents or organic solvents.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bacterium is grown in a temperature range from approximately 40 to 70° C.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bacterium is viable or used in a pH interval between approximately 3 and 9.5.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said Deinococcus bacterium is able to convert C6 and/or C5 sugars and/or to promote the digestion of cellulose to generate glucose and/or to promote the digestion of hemicellulose to generate xylose.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bacterium is Deinococcus geothermalis or Deinococcus murrayi.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bacterium is Deinococcus geothermalis.
 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein a reactor for the conversion of vegetal biomass is employed.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, propionic acid, pyruvic acid, butyric acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, salts of said acids and mixtures thereof.
 14. The method according to claim 1, said method comprising: a) culturing and/or growing said bacterium with a liquid culture medium containing vegetal biomass under aerobic and/or anaerobic conditions; and b) separating at least one organic acid from the liquid culture medium. 